New voice on community radio creates opportunities for students
Cate Prestidge in the Free FM studio during her Thursday morning breakfast slot.
Wintec Media Arts team leader Cate Prestidge is now part of The Free Breakfast team, taking on the Thursday breakfast slot and joining the other Free FM presenters, Mark Bunting, Kelli Pike, Mike Williams and Bryan Smith on air weekdays from 7.30 - 9.30am.
Cate has always liked radio and says she hasn't done much since her student radio days in Dunedin and some shows on Otago Community Radio.
She says she is definitely more an “interested amateur than an expert”.
“I love the philosophy of Community Access Radio so decided to take the plunge and I'm really lucky that Wintec supports me to do this as professional development.”
Her role as the team leader of Communication at Wintec’s School of Media Arts keeps her busy, but also feeds her interest in creative media, from writing to content production.
“I've always thought I was too busy with my job at Media Arts to get involved, although the Communication department has been partnering with Free FM for the past few years producing student work for broadcast, and as part of our industry consultation.”
The collaboration between Wintec and Free FM has developed over the past few years. Students visit the studio to develop content for short shows as part of their learning with their work broadcast and podcast on the Free FM platform.
“The project-based nature of learning with industry means our students get real-world authentic learning,” explains Cate.
Cate sees her breakfast show as a chance for her to learn new skills but also to open up opportunities for Wintec students.
“It’s a good challenge for me to learn new skills and I hope it extends opportunities for students to develop podcasts and other creative audio/visual media.”
Cate does not have to dig deep for conversation topics and interviewees, given her connections and networks in the region. A recent show featured Waikato locals Cat and Jessie O’Brien, self-described minimalists chatting about the lifestyle movement minimalism. Waikato Tourism CEO Jason Dawson, has also had a guest spot, not to mention the growing list of students, alumni and Wintec staff that Cate plans to add to the mix.
“I've already had alumni and students on air talking Football World Cup and will definitely be hitting up my talented colleagues.”
Cate is on The Free Breakfast Thursdays, 7.30-9.30am on Free FM 89.0. Online listening options are at https://www.freefm.org.nz/hear-us
Find out more about Cate and her role as team leader of Communication at Wintec's School of Media Arts here.
Find out more about studying Communication at Wintec here.
